SEMINAR: Archaeology Seminar Series 2017

In 2011 Dr Gaye Nayton gave a public talk at the “More than grass – Exploring the Esplanade” conference, organised by the History Council of Western Australia. Dr Nayton’s talk was entitled “Foreshore treasure: The potential archaeology of the buried Port of Perth” where she stated that while the “Parks themselves have their own archaeology associated with leisure activities since they were created … in the case of the foreshore parks there is a whole different landscape buried deep underneath them”. Two recent consultancy excavation and monitoring programmes at the Supreme Court Garden and Elizabeth Quay have proved Dr Nayton correct. The seminar will discuss recent archaeological evidence from the construction of the first jetty in 1830 through to the eventual burying of both the Reveley and Barrack St Jetties under landfill by 1900. The changing Port of Perth landscape and its resultant impact on the archaeology will also be discussed.